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Defining Core Concepts and
Measurements in SuicidologyBy: Lars Mehlum, University of Oslo & Jill
Harkavy-Friedman, AFSP
Lars MehlumProfessor of psychiatry and suicidologyDirector National Centre for Suicide Research and PreventionFaculty of MedicineUniversity of Oslo, OsloNorway
Immediate Past President IASR
Outline• Clarity of concepts and definitions – why is this important?
• Defining suicide, attempted suicide, self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury
• Some examples of instruments to measure these behaviours
• More core concepts in suicide research and how to measure
• Repeated measures, time windows
• Ecological momentary assessment
Many studies of suicidal behaviour fail to provide clear definitions of what they are studying
• Creates big problems for referees, readers and for those who want to conduct systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses
• This is a waste of resources and impedes scientific progress• Core concepts in any study should be clearly defined• If you are going to study suicidal behaviour, you should describe and
define these behaviours clearly and in behavioural terms• Far too many ways of defining suicidal behaviours already exist, so
unless you are making development of definitions the focus of your research, don’t add yet another one
Outline• Clarity of concepts and definitions – why is this important?
• Defining suicide, attempted suicide, self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury
• Some examples of instruments to measure these behaviours
• More core concepts in suicide research and how to measure
• Repeated measures, time windows
• Ecological momentary assessment
Self-Harm (SH)
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury NSSI
Suicidal Self-Harm
SuicideSuicideAttempt
Definitions• Self-harm
Any act of self-poisoning or self-injury carried out by an individual irrespective of motivation
• Suicide
Death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die
• Suicide attempt
A potentially self-injurious act carried out with at least some wish to die, as a result of
act. There does not have to be any injury or harm, just the potential
• Non-suicidal self-injury
Intentional destruction of one’s own body tissue without suicidal intent and for purposes not
socially sanctioned
Outline• Clarity of concepts and definitions – why is this important?
• Defining suicide, attempted suicide, self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury
• Some examples of instruments to measure these behaviours
• More core concepts in suicide research and how to measure
• Repeated measures, time windows
• Ecological momentary assessment
Posner et al, Am J Psychiatry 2011 https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10111704
Self-Harm (SH)
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury NSSI
Suicidal Self-Harm
SuicideSuicideAttempt
• Evaluates the 6 criteria (A-F) for DSM-V NSSI disorder
• First: Administer a 17-item self-report questionnaire – Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI) for Criterion A
• Second: Conduct structured interview for Criterion A and the rest of the criteria
Gratz, K.L., Dixon-Gordon, K.L., Chapman, A.L., & Tull, M.T. (2014)
Klonsky, E.D. & Olino, T.M. (2008).
www.selvmord.no
Outline• Clarity of concepts and definitions – why is this important?
• Defining suicide, attempted suicide, self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury
• Some examples of instruments to measure these behaviours
• More core concepts in suicide research and how to measure
• Repeated measures, time windows
• Ecological momentary assessment
www.selvmord.no
Outline• Clarity of concepts and definitions – why is this important?
• Defining suicide, attempted suicide, self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury
• Some examples of instruments to measure these behaviours
• More core concepts in suicide research and how to measure
• Repeated measures, time windows
• Ecological momentary assessment
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)• AKA Event Sampling Methodology
• Repeated collection of data via mobile devices on subjects' current behavioursand experiences in real time, in participants' natural environments.
• Minimizes recall bias
• Maximizes ecological validity
• Allows more careful study of processes influencing behaviour in real-world contexts
• For example, if you aim to study mechanisms of change during treatment
• Or you wish to study highly volatile phenomena such as suicidal ideation or hopelessness or frequently occurring events such as NSSI
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)• Example from my own lab: MinEMA (’MyEMA’)
• App is password protected (!)
• The app will prompt participants to respond to a set of questions six times daily (between 10 AM and 10 PM) for seven consecutive days, yielding data from a maximum of 42 measurement points
• Each data collection takes 2-3 minutes
• Data are delivered directly and fully encrypted to and storedin the project database in the dedicated project area withinour research server
Allows us to study (examples)....
• ... sequential orders – what comes first?
• ...temporal patterns in more detail – in what situations or times of day?
• ...individual / group patterns
• ...changes in patterns over time and between intervention groups
• and many more
suicideresearchsummit.org
Defining Core Concepts and Measurements in Suicidology
Jill Harkavy-Friedman, PhD
PlanBasic measurement considerationsSuicide specific considerations
What is the variable of interest?Based on level of interest and literature
• ideation, plan, intent, behavior, death• knowledge, attitude, skill, behavioral change
Level of analysis• person, family, institution, population• candidate genes/genome screen
Absolute value or change score• reduction, response, recovery
Multiple measures vs. single measure• data reduction, redundancy
Administration ConsiderationsFormat
• Face-to-face interview, self-report, behavioral observation, telephone, computer, biological
Source of information• Self, parent, other informant, observer,
records, epidemiological informationInstrument for repeated measures
• Same form, alternate forms
Who should measure?Self-report vs. other reportClinical vs. lay ratersOpen vs. blind measurementTechnician vs. computer/lab equipmentInvestigator
How to decide on a measureReliabilityValiditySensitivitySpecificityVariabilityCeiling and Floor effects
Reliability=ReproducabilityInter-rater
Kappa
Intra-class correlation
Test-Retest: Over time
Correlate time 1 and time 2
Parallel Forms: Across Measurements
Correlate forms
Internal Consistency: Within a test
Spearman BrownCronbach’s Alpha
ValidityFace Validity: Does it look like it measures what it is supposed to ?Content Validity: Is the content representative?Criterion Validity: Predictive, ConcurrentConstruct Validity: Accrual of meaning through convergent and discriminant validity
Reliability is the upper limit of validity
Can you find an effect?Sensitivity and Specificity
Variability
Ceiling and Floor effects
Determine Goal of AssessmentSuicidal ideation and behaviorRiskTreatment effectPopulation risk
No matter the goal, suicide is complex, and you will likely have to measure multiple variables
Variables for measurement• Suicidal Behavior: Ideation, attempts, completion details
• Clinical Measures: diagnosis, clinical characteristics, mood
• Psychological measures: depression, hopelessness, impulsiveness, emotion regulation
• Social History: trauma, stress, social functioning, school experience
• Cognitive functioning: decision-making, implicit bias, • Psychophysiological measures: HRV, GSR, EEG• Biological measures: neurotransmitters, hormones,
metabolomics, inflammation, gut biome• Environment: access to means,
support, housing, food security
What needs to be measured?DemographicsSuicidal ideation and behaviorOutcomeConfoundersMediators and ModeratorsContext
Knowledge # crisis callsAttitudes Associated symptomsSuicidal Ideation Impact of suicideSuicide Attempts HospitalizationCompleted Suicide School completionLethality of attemptSuicide Intent
# referralsSocial Skills
Current Measures of Outcome
For Intervention studies outcomes must:Measure the target of interventionBe standardizedBe “not average” at baselineBe expected to change within the time frameBe Sensitive to changeBe present in all groupsHave a measurable effect sizeHave demonstrated reliability and validityBe feasible
Measurements, observations, descriptions can only be considered scientific when they are independently confirmed by other people.Jose Padilha
Thank You!
suicideresearchsummit.org
@afspnational
suicideresearchsummit.org
Clinical Trial Methods: Specific Considerations
for Suicide Research
Gregory K. Brown, PhDBarbara Stanley, PhD
Common design questions to consider when conducting clinical trial research with at risk samples
• What is the research question (study hypotheses)?• What is the study intervention and how does it lower risk (mechanism)?• Is the intervention safe?• How will you know if the intervention was provided as indicated?• Who is eligible to receive the intervention?• What is the outcome domain?• How will you measure the outcome?• What is the control intervention?• How many participants will you need?• Is the study feasible?
Choose an Appropriate Suicide Outcome Domain
Suicide
Suicidal Behavior
Suicidal Ideation
Use an Established Nomenclature of Suicidal Behavior
Crosby, A. E., Ortega, L., & Melanson, C. (2011). Self-directed Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements (Version 1.0). Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Self-directed Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) DefinitionsPosner, K., Brown, G. K., Stanley, B., Brent, D. A., Yershova, K. V., Oquendo, M. A., … Mann, J. J. (2011). The Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale: Initial Validity and Internal Consistency Findings From Three Multisite Studies With Adolescents and Adults. American Journal of Psychiatry, 168(12), 1266–1277.
Avoid terms that are infrequently used or poorly defined: “suicide gesture” or “suicidality”
Suicide as Outcome
• Pros• High ecological validity• State and national datasets are available: National Death Index, National
Violent Death Reporting System
• Cons• Suicide is a rare event even among high risk populations and requires very
large samples• Ascertaining death by suicide can take a long time• Discerning cause of death can be challenging (suicide vs accidental overdose)
Suicidal Behavior as Outcome• Pros
• May serve as a valid proxy measure of death by suicide• May be assessed by self-report, clinician interview, informant (such as a
family member) or by using medical record data such as using ICD-10 codes• Occurs more frequently than suicides but are still rare events unless high risk
samples are used• Cons
• May be especially rare events among older populations who often kill themselves on the first attempt
• Suicidal attempts can be difficult to identify (questionable lethality/potential lethality or questionable intent to die)
• Importance of using blind assessors to prevent biased assessments• Often difficult to maintain the blind
Suicidal Behavior as Outcome• Determine the types of suicidal behavior to assess:
• Suicide attempts• Interrupted attempts?• Aborted attempts?• Preparatory behavior toward imminent suicide behavior?• Is an ED visit for a suicide-related concern a positive or negative outcome?
• Use validated measures of suicidal behavior that correspond to the nomenclature
• See PhenX Toolkit• Consider value of Common Data Elements so that data can be harmonized across
studies• Establish interrater reliability; consider using blinded adjudication boards
for difficult to classify behaviors
Suicidal Ideation as Outcome
• Pros• Often more frequent than suicidal behavior• May be assessed by clinical interview or self-report• Validated measures of suicidal ideation are available
• See Phenx Toolkit or recent reviews• Consider measures for the appropriate age group
• Severity of suicidal ideation can be classified: (wish to die, active suicidal thoughts, active suicidal thoughts with general method, suicidal intent, suicidal intent with plan)
Suicidal Ideation as Outcome
• Cons• Suicidal ideation can be highly variable over time
• Fleeting, short or long duration, or can be chronic• Subject to recall bias if assessed retrospectively
• Consider “real time monitoring” such as Ecological Momentary Assessments• Secondary gains (or loses) can influence self-report
• Desires hospitalization for reasons other than suicide risk; fears hospitalization or loss
Frequency Distribution of the Scale for Suicide Ideation (Current) During Follow-up
Data from Brown et al., JAMA, 2005
Frequency Distribution of the Scale for Suicide Ideation (Worst) During Follow-up
Data from Brown et al., JAMA, 2005
Determining Inclusion Criteria
• Measurement of Suicidal Ideation• Consider enrolling patients with history of ideation
• What is the timeframe for the ideation: day/hour of assessment, past week, past month, or lifetime?
• Use clearly defined and reliable threshold for severity of ideation• Use measures with evidence-based cut-off scores or validated types of ideation• Avoid vague or unreliable nomenclature: “significant suicidal ideation”
Sample Size Considerations – Suicidal Behavior
• Need to estimate the rates of behavior during follow-up in the intervention condition and the control condition
• Larger sample sizes are needed when measuring suicide behavior to determine if the intervention prevented the behavior thanwhen using measures to assesses changes in severity (such as continuous depression scales)
Consider Recruitment Feasibility when Establishing Thresholds on Suicide Measures
Increased Sample
Availability
Lower Power to Detect Effects
During Follow-up
Lower threshold Such as longer
timeframe
Decreased rates of suicide
behavior
Managing Participants in Suicide Intervention Trials
• What to monitor• How to monitor• What should be done if risk is detected?• Participants in the control condition---what is an adequate control?
Managing Risk Occurs throughout the Trial
• Points of managing risk• Initial contact—screening phone contact • Between screening and in-person visit/consent• Prior to randomization• During trial• Disposition
• Procedures are similar throughout• Control conditions can vary but monitoring of risk should be the same
across conditions
Tension between Safety Procedures and “Best” Research Methods• Prior to discussing Safety procedures, important to discuss their
impact on methods throughout the trial • This impact has to be considered carefully• Balance between safety and methods that will answer the research
question being asked
Case Example: Trial Comparing Paroxetine with Placebo in Suicide Attempters
• Research question—is paroxetine effective in preventing the recurrence of suicide attempts
• Outcome---Suicide attempts• Trial length---12 months• Safety procedures: Remove if suicide attempt occurs during trial
or if suicide ideation becomes “too significant” • Minimizes risks• May lead to inaccurate conclusions from biased withdrawal• May not be clinically necessary
“The time from baseline to first recurrence of a suicide attempt was considered to be the primary endpoint.”
“Paroxetine appeared to be effective in the prevention of recurrent suicide attempts. This effect was observed (only) in minor repeaters.” Verkes et al. 1998
What should be done if suicide attempts occur during a trial?•Removal and referral•Maintain in trial with standard monitoring procedures
•Maintain in trial with increased monitoring in place
What should be monitored with suicidal participants?• Suicide risk---but how is it determined?
• Increasing suicidal ideation• Level of ideation that we typically identify as problematic—ideation with
intent; ideation with intent and plan• Suicidal behavior• Increasing symptoms associated with suicidal behavior e.g.
depression, hopelessness• Need to define and set criteria at the outset of the trial• Need to set procedures for monitoring at the outset• Need to define what will be done if criteria are met
Defining and intervening on suicide risk
• This is may seem simple but it is not • Has an impact on:
• Participant safety if too minimal• Participant willingness to disclose if too strict• Study outcomes if occurs too frequently or at too low a bar
• Why do we care if safety is at stake if study outcomes are adversely affected?• Participants may endure a trial for no reason; waste of time, money and possible risk
exposure
• Obtaining risk by: 1. asking participants directly; 2. monitoring how they are responding via EMA; 3. losing contact (participant stops attending appointments, stops answering calls)
Risk determination: How and by Whom
• Obtaining risk by: • 1. asking participants directly• 2. monitoring how they are responding via EMA• 3. losing contact (participant stops attending appointments, stops answering
calls)
• Who assesses risk
EMA as Tool to Measure SI: Comparison of SSI and EMA SI• Worst-point EMA ideation was positively related to the retrospective
post-EMA SSI (r=.729, p < .001)
• EMA ideation severity was also positively related to the retrospective post-EMA SSI; participants with one point higher on the post-EMA SSI had on average .85 higher scores on each EMA ideation item (SE=0.10)
• However, 58% of participants reporting ideation with EMA denied past week ideation when assessed retrospectively over the same timeframe on the SSI
Demographic and clinical characteristics by whether or not post EMA SSI = 0
Individual EMA suicidal ideation trajectories for participants with post-EMA SSI scores of zero
Comparing EMA SI and SSI=0
Mixed effects model of EMA suicidal ideation item endorsement on having non-zero post-EMA SSI
Note. + items were reverse-coded.
EMA Monitoring and Intervening
• Sometimes we do not know enough about when to intervene• Intervening can have a significant impact on future responding making the
assessment meaningless• Suggested approach---to monitor EMA remotely
• How often will EMA be monitored? Daily? 24/7? • Suicidal crises often last only minutes to a few hours in escalation from ideation to attempt• Identify point at which intervention will occur• Determine what will the intervention be
• Alternative approach---no EMA monitoring • Inform participants that EMA will not be monitored; that it is not a communication method• Provide emergency contact information as you would if assessments were done in the usual
way—clinician interviews, weekly self ratings
Case Example: Real time monitoring studies of suicidality: When to intervene
In the past 15 minutes, how strongly have you felt or experienced the following:
1. A wish to live 0 1 2 3 4
2. A wish to die 0 1 2 3 4
3. A wish to escape 0 1 2 3 4
4. Thoughts about dying 0 1 2 3 4
5. Thoughts about suicide 0 1 2 3 4
6. Urge to commit suicide 0 1 2 3 4
7. Thoughts about hurting self 0 1 2 3 4
8. An urge to hurt yourself 0 1 2 3 4
9. Like there were reasons for living 0 1 2 3 4
Individual with Highly Variable Suicidal Ideation: When to Intervene?
Individual with Elevated, Stable Suicidal Ideation
Participant Safety Procedures• Phone contacts---at beginning obtain phone number to recontact and
physical location• Develop a safety plan---clinical tool• Have full discussion with participants about emergency procedures
with study staff should they become suicidal—research tool• Provide a written document with emergency procedures and study-specific
contact information • Set the stage where investigators encourage rather than discourage contact if
participants are struggling• Suicide risk should be assessed clinically on a routine basis in addition
to study assessments
Staff Safety Procedures• All staff should have specific risk assessment training• Specific safety procedures should be clearly laid out for all study staff• For phone interactions, staff should have a way to connect with
senior staff or emergency rescue without ending the call with the participant
• A senior investigator should always be available to assessors and research assistants for consultation; set the stage---better to consult than try to handle matters alone; let staff know to say that they have an emergency
Emergency Procedures• Obtain emergency contacts at time of enrollment and permission to
use them• Identify conditions to participants when you will use emergency
contacts• Describe limits to confidentiality—if imminent suicide risk,
confidentiality cannot be maintained• This discussion takes place during consent process but it is good to reinforce
this periodically so participants are not surprised • Describe emergency rescue procedures and how collaboration and
cooperation can mitigate their use• Transparency is crucial
Postvention
• Establish procedures in advance should a suicide or highly lethal attempt occur during the trial
• Identify to whom events are reported
• Provide support for staff• Determine how contact with family will be handled
Final Points to Consider
• Ensure adequate staff time• Ensure adequate funding• Ensure support for all staff including senior investigators• Use consultation with peers extensively• Keep in mind that the work is hard but the goal is extremely
rewarding• Safety planning feedback from users
The Pathophysiology of
Suicidal Behavior
J. John Mann, MD
IASR/AFSP Workshop 2020
Disclosures:1. This talk is based on research funded by NIMH & BBRF.
2. Recipient of royalties from Research Foundation for
Mental Hygiene for commercial use of the C-SSRS.
A Brain-Centric Model of Suicidal Behavior: Mann and Rizk, AJP 2020.
J Mann 2020
Stress Diathesis Model of Suicidal Behavior
J Mann 2020
External
Stressful Life
Events
Perception
of Stress
(depression
& social
cues)
Response
to Stress
Internal
Stress of
Major
Depression
INSERT PHOTO
Milak et al, J Affective Disorders, 2010
Subjective depression, and
clinician-rated depression are
associated with different brain
regions.
Subjective Depression Associated with Anterior Cingulate Cortex Hyperfunction and
dlPFC Hypofunction
Brain Blood Flow Predicts Suicide in Major Depression
J Mann 2020
Dorsolateral PFC and
insula hypofunction are
seen in future suicides.Willeumier et al Trans
Psychiatry (2011)
Responses to Emotional Faces in Euthymic Suicide
Attempters versus Nonattempters Show Social Distortion
Jollant et al, AJP 2008, 165
Stress Diathesis Model of Suicidal Behavior
J Mann 2020
External
Stressful Life
Events
Perception
of Stress
(depression
& social
cues)
Response
to Stress
Internal
Stress of
Major
Depression
Delayed Discounting
* Value of rewards are discounted in proportion to delay.
* Value of uncertain rewards are even more discounted.
* Degree of discounting is a trait.
* Delayed discounting is an unconscious mechanism.
J Mann 2020
Clinical implications for decision to die by suicide or not?
• Suicide offers immediate certain relief from pain associated
with life.
• Treatment offers uncertain future benefit.
• Treatment is a harder sell to a patient prone to delayed
discounting and because of uncertainty of response.
J Mann 2020
A Revised Model of Decision Making and Suicidal Behavior
J Mann.2020
Emotional
painValue of relief by suicide or relief by
antidepressant treatment
Treatment
Low lethality impulsive suicidal behavior High lethality planned suicidal behavior
Need for rapid relief even if survives attempt or value of
certainty of death
Brain Blood Flow Predicts Suicide in Major Depression
J Mann 2020
Dorsolateral PFC and
insula hypofunction is
associated with
severity of subjective
depression and more
pronounced in future
suicides.Willeumier et al Trans
Psychiatry (2011)
Dorsolateral PFC Regulates Risk-taking Behavior
* Healthy men, increase risk-taking choices on a gambling task
when transcranial magnetic stimulation inhibits dorsolateral
PFC presumably because top down effect on orbital PFC is
compromised (Knoch et al 2006).
* Imaging of MDD at risk for suicide shows hypoactive dlPFC.
* Dorsolateral PFC impaired > orbital PFC > risky decisions
and suicidal behavior
J Mann 2020
Impaired Learning During Iowa Gambling Task by Suicide Attempters:
failure to improve problem solving
Jollant et al. AJP, 2005
Neurobiology of Suicide: seven pathways
1. High 5-HT1A autoreceptors > low serotonin release> low activity>loss of trophic effect2. Low CSF MHPG = low noradrenergic activity3. Low GABA = low GABAergic activity4. High glutamate>neurotoxicity5. High HPA axis activity>neurotoxicity6. Inflammation>neurotoxicity7. Low omega 3/6 PUFA ratio, stress>neuroinflammationand altered brain activity/neurotoxicity
J Mann.2020
Stress and Inflammation
• Inflammation is how the body defends against
infection and cancer.
• Inflammation is how the body repairs after trauma.
• Inflammation is a response to stress.
J Mann.2020
Inflammation in the Brain
• Inflammation outside the brain affects the brain and produces “sickness” behavior or state.
• Inflammation in body can cross the BBB and affect the brain by producing inflammation in the brain.
• Infections can cross the BBB and produce inflammation in the brain.
• COVID-19 has not been shown convincingly to get into the brain but does affect brain blood vessels and cause strokes.
J Mann.2020
Inflammatory Response is Triggered by Emotional Stress
J Mann.2020
A PET Scan of Inflammation in Brain: TSPO binding
J Mann.2020
ER176 VT (not adjusted for genotype)
BD
I
anterior cingulate orbital PFC medial PFC
y = 6.991x - 4.672R² = 0.692
y = 7.695x - 6.943R² = 0.691
y = 7.569x - 4.888R² = 0.692
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0 2 4 6 8
J Mann.2020
ER176 VT (not adjusted for
genotype)
SU
ICID
AL
ID
EA
TIO
N
anterior cingulate orbital PFC medial PFC
y = 1.497x - 2.378R² = 0.179
y = 1.875x - 3.787R² = 0.231
y = 1.709x - 2.763R² = 0.199
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0 2 4 6 8
J Mann.2020
Stress Diathesis Model of Suicidal Behavior
J Mann.2020
External
Stressful Life
Events
Perception
of Stress
(depression
& social
cues)
Response
to Stress
Internal Stress
of Major
Depression
Dranovsky and Hen, 2006:
Stress in mice > fewer cells and smaller cells in hippocampus
Antidepressants > more and bigger cells
J Mann.2020
More Time in a Major Depression Produces Smaller Hippocampus
Sheline et al PNAS, 1996
Antidepressants Appear to Correct
Dentate Gyrus Volume Deficit in Depression
n=18 n=18 n=8 n=5 n=4
p<.001
Boldrini et al, BP 2012
Fewer Mature Neuronal Granule Cells in Dentate Gyrus in
Untreated MDD Suicides.
Boldrini et al, BP 2012.
SSRI-Treated
MDD Are Same as
Controls
Process Length/Synapses In MDD Suicides
Boldrini et al, unpublished
50 μm
A
Hilus
ML
SGZ
CA3
GCL
500 μm
B
C
GCL
GCL
Hilus
ML
SGZ
Shorter dendrite length in anterior DG in suicide-MDD
200
400
600
Den
dri
te len
gth
(u
m)
*p=.006
Control
0Suicide
MDD
100 μm
Process retraction in MDD suicides indicates synapse loss
Shorter Serotonin Neuron Process Length in PFC of Suicide Decedents
Austin et al. Neuroscience 2002
Process length is shorter in some
layers of Brodmann Area 46 in dlPFC.
Brain BDNF Lower in Depression and Suicide If History Of
Childhood Adversity
J Mann 2020
C A 3 #
Anterior HPC
p=.030
5-H
T1A
mR
NA
de
ns
ity
(n
Ci/m
g tis
su
e)
C –No ELA
C –ELA
MDD –No Suicide
MDDSuicide –No ELA
MDDSuicide –
ELA
0
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.3
Figure 5. 5-HT1A receptor mRNA in situ hybridization in
hippocampus from subjects with and without childhood adversity(ELA). 5-HT1A receptor mRNA is more in anterior DG in suicide vs
non-suicideMDD.
*
Nonsuicide, No Adversity Suicide, No Adversity Nonsuicide, Adversity Suicide, Adversity
Figure 6. FKBP5 Levels in Prefrontal Cortex.
Subjects with a history of early life adversity havehigher FKBP5 levels in both dorsolateral and
cingulate prefrontal cortex.
BA24BA9
Figure 7. HDAC levels in prefrontal cortex. In dorsolateral prefrontal
cortex (BA 9) Suicides with early life adversity had reduced HDAC6levels compared to suicides with no history of early life adversity.
In anterior cingulate cortex (BA 24) suicides had lower HDAC6levels than nonsuicides, independent of adversity status.
0.5
0
*
BD
NF
:HK
P r
ati
o
2.0
1.0
1.5
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
*
*
BA 24BA 9
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
* *
HD
AC
6:H
KP
ra
tio
Figure 8. BDNF Protein. Western blots
were analyzed by autoradio-graphy.Both suicide groups as well as controls
exposed to adversity had lower ratiosthan controls.
BA 24
FK
BP
5:H
KP
rati
o
p<.05
HPA Axis Over-activity and Neuroinflammation in Suicide
J Mann 2020
CA3#
*
Nonsuicide, No Adversity Suicide, No Adversity Nonsuicide, Adversity Suicide, Adversity
Figure 6. FKBP5 Levels in
Prefrontal Cortex. Subjects witha history of early life adversity
have higher FKBP5 levels inboth dorsolateral and cingulate
prefrontal cortex.
BA24BA9
Figure 7. HDAC levels in prefrontal
cortex. In dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA 9) Suicides with early life adversity
had reduced HDAC6 levels compared tosuicides with no history of early life
adversity. In anterior cingulate cortex (BA24) suicides had lower HDAC6 levels than
nonsuicides, independent of adversitystatus.
0.5
0
*
BD
NF
:HK
P r
ati
o
2.0
1.0
1.5
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
*
*
BA 24BA 9
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
* *
HD
AC
6:H
KP
ra
tio
Figure 8. BDNF Protein.
Western blots wereanalyzed by autoradio-
graphy. Both suicidegroups as well as
controls exposed toadversity had lower
ratios than controls.
BA 24
FK
BP
5:H
KP
rati
o
p<.05
1.5
Cyto
kin
es
LeptinSCFMIG
MIP1AMCP3
PAI1FASL
ENA78IL1B
IL2IL4IL5
IP10TGFA
IL6IL7IL8
IL10TGFBIFNB
TNFBIL12P40IL12P70
IL13IL17
RANTESIFNG
GMCSFTNFAGCSF
MIIP1BIFNA
LIFMCP1
EOTAXINGFGBFEGFTRAILGROA
IL1AIL1RA
IL15ICAM1
HGFCD40L
RESISTINVCAM1
MCSF
PDGFBBNGF
IL17F
1.00.50.0-log10(p)
Neuroinflammation in Suicide MDD
HPA Axis Overactivity
Trophic Deficits and Toxic Effects in MDD Suicides
• Lack serotonin/BDNF trophic effects.
• Excessive HPA allostatic load.
• Neuroinflammation.
• All favor process and cell loss.
J Mann.2020
Summary
• Brain function is abnormal in high suicide risk patients and decedents in brain areas related to emotion regulation, social perceptions, decision-making and learning.
• Stress raises HPA activity, increases inflammation and lowers BDNF.
• Inflammation reduces serotonin function.• All reduce processes and cell survival and increase risk
of suicide.
J Mann.2020
Genetics and Epigenetics in Suicide Research
Gil Zalsman MD, MHA
President of the IASR
Director of Geha MHC
Chair of Psychiatry, Tel Aviv University, Israel
and Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division,
Columbia University, USA
Basic Principals
Chapters: 10-14
Specific for suicide
Suicide runs in families
Suicide runs in families(A Roy et al 1990, DA Brent et al., 1996)
Ernest Hemingway
Suicide runs in families
A. Families studiesWhat we do using this method?
• Familial aggregation of suicidal behavior
• Assessing relatives of attempters/died by suicide
• Population registry in Denmark and Sweden (Asberg 2003, Qin 2002)
Strengths and weaknesses of this method
• Most are retrospective
• Environment confounders? No just due to grief (sui>homicide)
• Prospective- lots of years and resources, government will…
Suicide runs in families
B. Adoption studiesWhat we do using this method?
• Using adoption registry
• Matching adopted subjects who died by sui to those who didn’t looking
at their biological vs non biological parents (Schulsinger 1979)
• Controls for environmental confounders
Strengths and weaknesses of this method
• Needs open registry (Denmark)
• Most are retrospective
• Prospective- lots of years and resources, government will…
Suicide runs in families
C. Twins studiesWhat we do using this method?
• Using twins registry
• MZ vs DZ
• Evaluate magnitude of gene vs environment effects
• Twins registry in Denmark
Strengths and weaknesses of this method
• Needs registry
• Shared and non-shared environment
• Most are retrospective
• Prospective- lots of years and resources, government will…
Suicide runs in families
C. Twins studies
DZ 0.7%
MZ 13%(Roy A. 1990; Ott J. et al, 2001)
Caspi and Moffitt, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, July 2006, with permission
Approaches in research of the medical genetics
Association studies in suicidology
Association Studies in SuicidologyWhat we do using this method?
• Assessing specific candidate genotype frequency in affected vs non affected
subjects. Can use intermediate phenotypes (endophenotype)
• Assuming direct main effect by a single allele/SNP/polymorphism
• Chi square statistics
Strengths and weaknesses of this method
• Looking under the light
• Association doesn’t mean effect or causality
• If there is a direct main effect of a single marker it’s a Nobel price…
• Simple PCR technique (learn how to)
• Needs large numbers (n)
• Needs good clinical phenotype (Questionnaires) OR ENDOPHENOTYPE
• Environmental effects are not accounted for
e.g.5HTTLPR
Genotype Non suicidal
(expected)
Suicidal
(finding)
LL 80% 20%
SS 15% 75%
SL 5% 5%
Direct main effect approach
TPH1
TPH2
SERT-5HTTLPR
COMT val/met
MAO A
5HT’s
DRD4
NET
BDNF
Wolfram (WFS1)
Etc……
→ Equivocal results
Haplotype Relative Risk (HRR)
TDT
Parents are controls for their suicidal kid
*Avoid Ethnic Stratification
Transmitted alleles Non-transmitted allele
AA BA
AA BA
HRR association approach
Genetics of Suicide in Adolescents
Zalsman G
In: Dwivedi Y, editor. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide. 2012. Chapter 14.
GWAS in suicidology
Genome Wide Association Studies
What we do using this method?
• Multiple association studies in one shot
• DNA microarrays
• RNA expression arrays
• Looking for linkage between specific SNPs and suicide phenotypes
Strengths and weaknesses of this method
• Needs large numbers (n)
• $$$$ (not anymore)
• University setting-genome center
• Environmental confounders
• Multiple testing: many SNPs are very significant….Use post hoc tests
(e.g. Hochberg-Binayminy) or look for candidate SNPs
Genome Wide Association Studies
Just came out: Ducherty et al.,
AJP October 2020
the first comprehensive genomic analysis of suicide
death using previously unpublished genotype data
from a large population-ascertained cohort.
Genome-wide association analysis identified
two genome-wide significant loci (involving six
SNPs: rs34399104, rs35518298, rs34053895,
rs66828456, rs35502061, and rs35256367).
Gene-based analyses implicated 22 genes on
chromosomes 13, 15, 16, 17, and 19 (q<0.05).
Polygenic scores for several other psychiatric
disorders and psychological traits were also
predictive, particularly scores for behavioral
disinhibition and major depressive disorder.
Caspi and Moffitt, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, July 2006, with permission
Approaches in research of the medical genetics
GxE approach in suicidology
Binder 2016
5HTTLPR Gene X Environment Interaction in suicidal behavior
Caspi et al. Science, 2003
GxExT approach
Suggested Model: GxExT interaction
WKY Rat
Animal model for depression,
despair and anhedonia
GXEXT
Zalsman et al., Eur Neoropsychopharmacology 2015
Epigenetics
EpigeneticsChanges in DNA that change gene expression. These
changes can be permanent (cell type) or temporary
(developmental window , environmental ques)
Types:
1. Methylation
2. Histones modification
3. Non coding RNAs=MiRNA
Issler and Chen, Nature Review Neuroscience 2015
Epigenetics in Psychiatry
Epigenetics in suicidology
Labonte 2013
Caspi and Moffitt, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, July 2006, with permission
Approaches in research of the medical genetics
How environment and epigenetics interact?
epigenomic marks can be altered through calcium-dependent signaling cascades in direct response to neuronal activity.
Nagy C et al., Genes Brain Behav. 2018;17(3):e12446.
Thank You!zalsman@tauex.tau.ac.il
Thank You!zalsman@tauex.tau.ac.il
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